Makerere Vice Chancellor Banabas Nawangwe

A group of  Six students from Makerere University have dragged the Institution to the civil division of the High Court in Kampala   challenging  the powers given to the Vice-Chancellor under the Makerere University Regulations, 2015.
 In a petition filed on Tuesday morning, six students including Abbas  these groups of  students include Abbas Ruyombo, Judith Nalukwago, Mugisha Mariam Kyomugisha, Mbabazi Julius Muyambi, Marion Kirabo and David Musiri.
The students state  that their freedoms are under suffocation by the university management with threats of suspension stemming from regulations 6(1)(d) and 8(9)(a)of the Makerere University Students Regulations Statutory Instrument.
Last month the university management  suspended nine students and cautioned  26 others for allegedly dismantling property  during the riot at the institution.
According to the regulations, the Vice-Chancellor has powers to suspend a student from the University or to discipline him in any manner he thinks fit and seek approval of his action at the next meeting of the University Disciplinary Committee”.
The students through their lawyers of Kiiza and Mugisha Company Advocates contend that the said Regulations denies or threatens to deny the affected students a right to fair hearing, natural justice and administrative powers.
According to the petition the students also  say that the said Regulation is imprecise and vague, which makes it subject to different interpretation by the vice chancellor  which is very dangerous for the students who would be subject to it.
“The regulation leaves me and other students uncertain as to whether or when a fair hearing will be given since the vice chancellor usually promises in suspension letters a hearing at unspecified time”, it reads
The students explain  that these immense powers given to the University Vice-Chancellor threaten and infringe on their right to fair hearing, freedom of conscience, expression, assembly and association in the struggle for their welfare and academic freedom.
“Regulation 6(1)(d) of the Makerere University Students Regulations Statutory Instrument no.37 of 2015 gives unfettered powers to the Vice-Chancellor to arbitrarily suspend a student from the university or to discipline him in any manner he thinks fit and seek approval of his action at the next University Disciplinary Committee sitting, ”the students say.
The  students also note that  the current regulations also defeat natural justice and just administrative treatment towards students.
“The regulations are imprecise, overly broad and vague, which makes it subject different interpretation by the Vice Chancellor which is very dangerous for the students who would be subject to it.”
The students who have sued in the capacity to protect the image of Institution now want court to stop further reliance and enforcement of the said Regulations.
The students  want court to declare that Regulation 6(1)(d) of the Makerere University Students Regulations Statutory Instrumentno.37 of 2015 which gives powers to the Vice Chancellor to arbitrarily suspend a student from the University or discipline him in any manner he thinks fit and seek approval of his action in the next meeting of the disciplinary commit is vague, arbitrary, illegal, null and void.